Valve device for toilet flush tanks



y 1954 E. CROCKETT 2,682,888

VALVE DEVICE FOR TOILET FLUSH TANKS Filed Feb. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl G. 2'4

INVENTOR ERN E sT LCRocKETT ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 E. L. CROCKETT VALVE DEVICE FOR TOILET FLUSH TANKS Filed Feb. 8, 1952 FIGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s 42 9 42 40 27 T- +32 4' Fl G. 8 39 26 3| 2 58 29 3o l f 36 3 4 j 17 38 gg 35 49 55 28 I 52 53 4 A /5 46 48 5! 48 M INVENTOR ER NEAST v LCRockmT ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to float operated valves for, use in toilet flush tanks.

An important object of the invention is to provide a valve device which is extremely simple, reliable in operation, durable, extremely easy to service and cheap to manufacture.

An important object of the invention is to provide a valve device of the above-mentioned character which is located close to the bottom of the tank and will directly discharge the water into the bottom of the tank, reducing the noise of operation to the minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve device having connection with a tube which discharges into the overflow pipe. for the purpose ofinsuring a proper seal and will also supply air to break a back water siphon in the event that a leak occurred in the water supply pipe.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toilet flush tank equipped with a float operated water inlet valve embodying my invention, parts of the tank being shown in section,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the water supply valve device,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the water supply device,

Figure 5 is a central vertical longitudinal sec,- tion through the same taken on line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 1,-'! of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 8--8 of Figure 5, and,

Figure 9 is a similar view taken on line 99 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, where the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 designates a toilet flush tank ofconventional construction, provided in its bottom with a discharge pipe or sleeve I2, secured in place by a coupling nut l3. Formed integral with the discharge sleeve I2 is an upwardly directed conical valve seat I4 for the usual conical flush valve element 15 of rubber or the like. This valve element is carried by an upstanding vertical guide tube It, slidably receiving a rigid vertical guide rod [1, rigidly held by a horizontal support arm 18 in turn rigidly secured to a vertical overflow pipe l9. This over flow pipe I9 is equipped at its bottom with a tubular extension 20 leading into the discharge sleeve [2 below the valve seat. The extension 20 is permanently rigidly secured to the discharge sleeve l2 and is preferably formed integral therewith.

A vertical pull or trip rod 2| has its lower end attached to the guide tube Hi and its upper end is pivotally connected at 22 with the free end of a vertically swinging lever 23, rigidly secured to a horizontal rock shaft 24, journaled in the forward side of the tank IE) and operated by an exterior hand lever 25, as shown.

My inlet valve device embodies a unitary casing 25 which is preferably substantially elliptical in horizontal cross section. The casing includes a horizontal top 21 and a horizontal bottom 28, forming chambers 29 and 30., separated by a vertical web 3 I, having a large opening 32 at its top, placing the chambers 28 and 30 in communication. The bottom 28 is provided with a vertical opening 33 leading into the lower end of the chamber 29 and the bottom serves to support a conical valve seat 34 formed of rubber or the like and surrounding the opening 33. The bottom 28 has an opening 35 formed therein leading into the chamber 30 and this bottom supports a conical valve seat 3% formed of rubber or the like and surrounding the opening 35. Arranged within the chamber 29 is a check ball valve 37 which may be formed of metal such as stainless steel or the same may beformed of rubber or other suitable material. When the check ball valve 31 is seated, it covers the opening 33. A check ball valve 38 is mounted in the chamber 30 and is adapted to engage the valve seat 36 and may be formed of stainless steel, rubber or any other suitable material. At its top, the casing is provided with a screwthreaded opening 39, of a size to permit of the passage of the ball check valve 31 and the valve seat 34 is flexible and may be. folded to pass through the opening and may be manipulated by a tool passed through the opening 39 so that the same will be properly arranged upon the bottom 28. The opening 39 is closed by a removable plug 40. The top 21 is also provided with a large screw-threaded opening 4| for the similar passage of the ball check valve 31 and valve seat 36 and the opening 4| receives a removable plug 42.

Arranged beneath and formed integral with the bottom 28 is a vertical tubular extension 43, having a horizontal flange 44 to engage the bottom of the tank it. Formed integral with the tubular extension 43 is a vertical sleeve 45, receiving a rubber gasket 46 and a clamp nut 41. The gasket 43 engages the interior of the bottom of the tank and forms a water-tight connection. The sleeve 45 extends below the bottom of the tank to receive the usual water supply pipe connected therewith by the usual water-tight coupling. Formed integral with the bottom 28 and extending below the same is a vertical housing :38, forming a chamber 43' which is open at its bottom and outer side. A vertically slotted guide 42 is formed. integral with the bottom adjacent to the outer side of the chamber 68 and the slot of the guide leads into the chamber 48.

The numeral 50 designates a check ball valve lifter including a short arm i pivoted to swing in a vertica1 plane upon a horizontal pin 52, secured to the slotted guide 49. The inner end of this arm has an upwardly directed extension 53, to enter the opening 35 and lift the check ball valve 33. The arm 5i extends for a short distance beyond the slotted guide 49 and is equipped with a screw-threaded sleeve 56, receiving the screw-threaded. end of a vertically swinging rod extending upwardly within the tank and having a horizontal extension 55, carrying a float 51.

A tubular coupling 48 is formed integral with one side of the housing 43, and has the lower end of its bore leading into the chamber 43 while its upper end extends through the top of the coupling. A tube 58 is tapped into the upper end of the bore of the tubular coupling and is therefore in communication with the chamber 48. This tube ts extends upwardly and has a downturned end leading into the upper end of the overflow pipe it. The purpose of this tube is to insure a water seal. in the toilet bowl.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

When the flush valve i5 is raised, the water discharges from the tank It] and passes to the toilet bowl, as is well known. As the level of the water descends, the rod 55 is swung upon its pivot 52 and the upwardly directed extension 53 of the arm 5| engages the outlet check ball valve 31, un-

seating the same and placing the chamber in communication with the tank It. The pressure of the water from the water supply pipe passes into the tubular extension 43 and lifts the check ball valve 3?. The water then passes from the chamber as through opening 32, through chamher as and through opening to the tank. Particular attention is called to the fact that the Water is supplied into the tank is very close to the bottom of the tank reducing the noise to the minimum. As the water level in the tank rises, the rod 55 swings upwardly upon its pivot and when the desired level is obtained, the extension 53 disengages the outlet check ball valve which is seated and cuts off the supply of water. The check ball valve 3'! will seat when the pressure in the chamber 29 above the check valve builds up to equal that beneath the check ball valve 31. This check ball valve 31 serves to prevent a back siphoning of the water from the tank.

When the float 5'1 descends a sufficient distance, to unseat the check ball valve 31, the weight of the rod 55 and float 5'! will retain this check ball valve unseated until the desired elevation of the Water is restored to again raise the float 5'! to the top position for seating the check ball valve 31.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a float operated valve device, a valve casing having substantially vertical fluid inlet and outlet passages arranged in side-by-side relation, the valve casing having a transverse passage connecting said inlet and outlet passages near their upper ends, annular valve seats formed upon the valve casing within said inlet and outlet passages and spaced below said transverse passage and arranged at substantiall the same elevations, vertically shiftable ball check valve elements disposed within the inlet and outlet passages above said annular valve seats and normally resting upon the valve seats, the valve casing being provided in its upper end with openings in alignment with the inlet and outlet passages, removable plugs mounted within said openings and permitting the ball check valve elements to enter the tops of the inlet and outlet passages, and a vertically swingable float operated lever pivoted to the valve casing near the lower end of said outlet passage and adapted to engage the ball check valve element within such passage to unseat the same.

2. In a float operated valve device, a valve casing having substantially vertical fluid inlet and outlet passages arranged in side-oy-side relation and opening through the bottom of the valve casing, the valve casing having a transverse passage connecting said inlet and outlet passages near their upper ends, annular valve seats formed upon the valve casing within the inlet and outlet passages at substantially the same elevations and spaced below said transverse passage, compressible washers mounted upon the annular valve seats, vertically shiftable ball check valve elements disposed within the inlet and outlet passages above said compressible washers and adapted to rest upon the washers, the valve casing being provided in its upper end with screwthreaded openings in substantial vertical alignment with the inlet and outlet passages and large enough to permit the passage of the ball check valve elements into the tops of the inlet and outlet passages, screw-threaded plugs removably mounted within said screw-threaded openings and normally closing the upper ends of the inlet and outlet passages above said transverse passage, the valve casing being provided in its side wall with a slot opening into the lower end of the outlet passage below the annular valve seat of the outlet passage, and a vertically swingable float operated lever pivoted to the valve casing and extending through said slot and having an upturned extension arranged within the outlet passage below the annular valve seat of the outlet passage and adapted to engage and unseat the ball check valve element of said outlet passage.

References Gited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 766,416 Booth Aug. 2, 1904 926,787 Virkler July 6, 1909 947,234 Herschler Jan. 25, 1910 1,005,044 Koch Oct. 3, 1911 1,180,482 Flanders Apr. 25, 1916 1,551,808 Dixon Sept. 1. 1925 1,885,424 Fischer Nov. 1, 193?. 1,953,007 Farmer Mar. 27, 1934 2,367,893 Sheen Jan. 23, 1945 

